LG LG B5 83" 4K HDR Smart OLED TV Review

The LG B5 83" OLED scores in the 99th percentile for gaming and display quality. For $2300, it delivers a huge, contrast-perfect OLED panel with every gaming feature you could want. The catch? Its picture processing scores in the lower 45th percentile, so it may need some tweaking out of the box.

The LG B5 83" OLED is a gaming monster. Its gaming performance lands in the 99th percentile of all TVs in our database, which means it's essentially at the top of the heap for smooth, tear-free play. Pair that with a 120Hz native refresh rate, NVIDIA G-Sync, AMD FreeSync, and a near-instantaneous 0.1ms response time, and you've got a screen that's built to keep up. For $2300, you're getting an 83-inch OLED panel that also scores in the 99th percentile for overall display quality. That's a lot of screen and a lot of performance for the money, though it makes a few trade-offs to hit that price point.

Let's talk numbers. That 99th percentile gaming score isn't just a ranking; it translates to a buttery-smooth experience with virtually no input lag or screen tearing, thanks to full VRR support. The display itself also sits in the 99th percentile, which is OLED's party trick: perfect blacks and infinite contrast from those self-lit pixels. HDR support is excellent, landing in the 94th percentile with Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG all on board, powered by LG's Alpha 8 AI Gen2 processor for real-time optimization. The connectivity suite is a standout too, at the 93rd percentile, featuring four HDMI ports (with eARC), Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.3. The one spec that gives us pause is the picture quality score, which sits at the 45th percentile. In our testing, this typically means the out-of-the-box calibration or processing in certain modes isn't as refined as some competitors, though the raw OLED panel quality is still exceptional.

At $2300 for an 83-inch OLED, the value proposition is pretty compelling. You're getting near-top-tier gaming and display performance for significantly less than LG's own G5 series or Sony's high-end models. The trade-off for that lower price is evident in the 45th percentile picture quality score, which often reflects less aggressive processing or brightness compared to those pricier sets. But if your priority is raw panel quality and gaming features over absolute peak HDR brightness, this is a lot of TV for the money.

Stacked up against the competition, the B5's strength is its gaming-focused OLED package. The Sony BRAVIA 5 85" Mini-LED will likely beat it in peak brightness and out-of-the-box color accuracy for movies, but it can't match the OLED's perfect blacks or the B5's comprehensive gaming feature set. Compared to the Hisense U6 or TCL QM8 Mini-LEDs, you're paying more for the B5, but you're getting a vastly superior contrast experience and better gaming response. The real internal competition is LG's own C4 or G5 series. The C4 might have slightly better processing, but you'll pay more for a similar size. The G5 is brighter and more refined, but the price jump is steep. The B5 carves its niche as the big-screen OLED for gamers on a budget.

Skip the B5 if your primary viewing happens in a very bright, sunlit room. OLEDs, including this one, can struggle with glare and perceived brightness compared to high-end Mini-LED sets like the Sony BRAVIA 5 or Samsung Neo QLED. Also, if absolute, out-of-the-box color accuracy and processing are your top priorities (that 45th percentile picture quality score is a flag), you might want to look at a step-up model like the LG C4 or a Sony OLED, where those metrics are typically higher.

If you want a massive, immersive screen primarily for gaming and dark-room movie watching, the LG B5 83" is a data-backed winner. Its 99th percentile scores in gaming and display are the real deal. Just go in knowing that its picture processing isn't class-leading, and you'll want to budget for a soundbar. For the price, it's one of the most compelling ways to get a giant OLED into your living room, provided that living room isn't flooded with sunlight.